Revision as of 18:48, 20 August 2013

The Bethel Mennonite Church (General Conference Mennonite Church), located near Dolton in Turner County, South Dakota, with a membership of approximately 80, was a member of the Northern District Conference. The first building was dedicated and the congregation organized in December 1892. The present meetinghouse, built in 1920, seated 500. The architectural design was unique, with a wrap-around balcony and ornate stamped metal sheets with relief designs on the walls and ceiling.

The congregation first had a pastor of its own in 1917, when J. A. Thieszen was appointed. He resigned on 1 January 1950; after that time the congregation was served by Glenn Epp, Joe Hoffer, H. J. Brown, and Harold Thiessen, who was called on 1 July 1953. One missionary and two pastors went out from the congregation to serve in other fields.

The congregation closed, and the Bethel building was moved to the Freeman Museum, in Freeman, South Dakota, in 1992.